Oku' nerere Adoration Ministry: Rev. Fr. Dr. Obayi Paul Obinna petitions God over arsonists for Burning of over 200 case files

It came as a rude shock to many because to them it was inconceivable that anyone could contemplate

the act of burning of over 200 case files in an Enugu High Court sitting in Nsukka judicial division.

However, all they could offer in response were mere condemnations without action. But that is not the case with renowned Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Dr. Obayi Paul Obinna Martins of the Oku’ nerere Adoration Ministry. He has since sent a petition to God to unravel the circumstances surrounding the burning of the case files, while invoking God’s punitive anger on the unknown arsonists.

Fr. Obayi who stormed the High Court while in session told the sitting judge, Justice Fidelis Ngwu, that his mission was to cleanse the court by casting out the demons that have made the place their haunt as well as offer prayers of protection for the judge against those hellbent on truncating his commitment to dispensing justice according to the dictates of the law without fear or favour.He assured that having stepped into the hallowed chambers of the court, the perpetrators of the crime would never go scot free.

The unannounced arrival of the revered Catholic priest came as a pleasant surprise to Justice Ngwu as he adjourned the proceedings of the court for few minutes to welcome his eminent guest.

Soul winning programmes

This reception was considered in order because the priest had over the years achieved fame as an authority in family/household deliverance and soul-winning programmes in Igboland. He is reputed to have often dared where other men of God fear to tread in a bid to set free those held in bondage by  stubborn deities.

While at the the scene of the incident, he condemned the action of the arsonists but praised  Justice Ngwu for being upright and not yielding to the temptation of bribery. He added that it was for this reason that infidels wanted to implicate him by setting ablaze the files, adding that following the radical, warfare prayer he had offered, the judge would certainly be vindicated.

According to him: “No prayer goes in vain, every prayer has effective result. The legal institution knows the worth of Justice Ngwu which is why he has been serving in his domain over the years as a High Court Judge.”

He noted that there is need for adequate security of the court, saying more policemen should, as a matter of necessity, be deployed to guard the court premises and  judges residences, while urging fellow clerics to offer prayers for the spiritual protection of the court and its workers.

It would be recalled that the hallowed chambers of the court presided over by Justice Fidelis Ngwu has been invaded three times within one year of his posting from Obollo- Afor judicial division to Nsukka in 2013 by unknown persons allegedly searching for exhibit files and other confidential documents. In December 2013, the chambers was broken into and exhibit files carted away and in January 2014 another invasion of the chambers led to the burglary proofs being destroyed and files taken away.

Vanguard Metro investigations revealed that the recent invasion that resulted in over 200 case files being burnt was the most devastating although files of already decided cases were the most affected. Only the few files the Judge took home with him were spared or escaped the arsonists fury.

Investigations further revealed that judges in Enugu State work under what observers consider as inhuman conditions. They don’t have security operatives guarding their homes, a situation attributed to politicians hijacking security details meant for judges who cannot afford the cost of hiring security men to guard them. Similarly, investigating police officers, IPOs, are not given any incentive to go court to testify which is why witnesses in criminal matters are usually threatened  as if they are accomplices. Also prison inmates and criminals are not regularly brought to court as the officers of Nigeria Prisons complain lack of logistics to convey them to court.

Investigations also revealed that prison inmates contribute money before they are taken to court because the prison officers are handicapped. But if a sitting judge strikes out a case of felony, rape or murder people often see this as arising from lack of diligent prosecution and issue a petition accusing the judge of having been bought over. They forget that judges can only perform if they are properly motivated to dispense justice.

In Enugu State some judges sit in three divisions: Justice Onovo sits in Nsukka and Enugu- Ezike; Justice Ngwu sits in Nsukka and Enugu Ezike; while Justice Afam Nwobiodo sits at Enugu and Orji –River judicial divisions.

 Written By Chinenyeh Ozor

Photo of Justice Fidelis Ngwu(left) and Rev. Fr. Obayi Paul Obinna Martins